ADRENALINE:

Driving and ferrying to Newfoundland & Labrador

Welcome to Nova Scotia; Canada; 2015

With the upset of having my camera gear stolen on my last trip to Newfoundland and a dozens of souvenirs swiped out of my Jeep during that particular period, it was anticipated to re-visit the region of Newfoundland & Labrador. In order to not make this a “repeat” tour, we added in various new National Parks, UNESCO World Heritage Sites, and remote destinations that we wanted to visit along the way.

Birthplace of Hockey; Windsor, Nova Scotia; 2015

Ferry Route #1:

One of the ferry routes that was on our schedule was from Sydney, Nova Scotia to Channel-Port Aux Basques, Newfoundland.

Experiencing the same rainstorm in 2 countries (USA and Canada)

As the journey progressed from the Eastern part of Maine in the USA and a border patrol visit within Maine and Quebec, Canada, a severity of rainstorms lit the entire East Coast. A 2-hour torrential downpour followed us into our final country destination.

Exploring Prince Edward Island

Phase 1: Part 4 – Newfoundland & Labradorcovered a portion of traveling in Prince Edward Island. The main agenda for this particular trip was to eat lobster at New Glasgow Lobster Supper, hike more of Prince Edward National Park, experience Cavendish with an emphasis on Anne of Green Gables, off-road on the red dirt roads laid before me, and stay at Charlottetown Backpackers Inn (HI affiliate).

Charlottetown Backpackers Inn:

Off-roading Prince Edward’s Islands red dirt roads

Red Dirt Road; Prince Edward Island; 2015

The red dirt roads were found in various parts of Prince Edward Island. In order to drive on these particular pathways, it was recommended to have a 4×4 (just in case you get too carried away, and find yourself deep within the trails). Once I reached Prince Edward Island many convenient store clerks explained that a “must do” was to find a handful of red dirt roads and explore them.

I jumped at the opportunity, and as soon as daylight hit Josh and I were driving around Prince Edward Island’s trails and back roads in search of these beautiful bright red roads that made the land of Prince Edward Island more appealing. I have to admit, I found myself deep within a few of the trails, and contemplated which way to drive since my GPS was barely functioning. In the end, it sure did make an excellent adventure!

These dirt roads led me to the coast of Summerside, where the red dirt has colored the water a deep coloration of red that stretched for miles.

CONSERVATION:

Learning about the re-introduction of Salmon in Fundy National Park

Fundy Sign; Fundy National Park; 2015

The coolest experiences happen in the most unexpected moments. My brother, Josh, and I found ourselves arriving at Fundy National Park and talking to a young girl prepping for her Western tour to Vancouver, Canada. We had swapped a number of Canadian travel stories. She had recommended that we talk to Fundy National Park’s Coordinator, Patrick, once she discovered that I was a Marine Biologist.

Patrick was not your average park ranger, he was involved in a multitude of projects within the park and surrounding communities. Peregrine falcons, eels, and salmon were just a few species that he was involved with over the years. Josh and I were a few days shy of witnessing a reintroduction to salmon to the park’s waters. Between aquaculture methodologies and use of hatcheries, the 10-year project was one of the most widely known conservation projects on Canada’s Eastern coast. The re-introduction entailed trackers placed on salmon, 1,000 fish being released, and a research scientist monitoring the progress of the aquaculture and hatcheries. We want to wish their future success of the re-introducing salmon to the pristine waters of Fundy National Park!

The map and activities of Fundy National Park. We stopped by in the off-season, but were graciously welcomed by the park rangers and staff. Though a slight overcast was above us, the Bay of Fundy still looked beautiful and refreshing to dive into!

Fundy National Park was also known for its unique collection of fossils. The visitor center was cleverly engineered and included fossils (even in the interior fireplace) and stones that were collected within the National Park.

Another suggestion from Patrick was to visit Pointe Wolf’s covered bridge that was built in 1992. With a good usage of my creativity and minimal traffic, I was able to photograph the inside of the bridge while driving (Warning: do not attempt).

Before departing Fundy National Park, we were greeted by an older couple, Karen and Jerry, that had traveled through the USA and Canada hitchhiking in the early 70’s. Currently, them and their dog are traveling in a RV around Canada, slowly making their way back to California, where they reside (their RV is beside my Jeep in the photograph below). I look forward to meeting up with them in the future when we drive to California, once again with the Jeep!

Fundy National Park; Canada; 2015

EDUCATION:

Oddly enough, eating at this particular restaurant and trying one of the best lobster destinations was high on our bucket list. During the previous portion of the world tour in this region, we had anticipated to stop and eat here. Due to the newspaper article interview and a very late visit to Prince Edward Island National Park, we promised each other that we would come back here in the near future when time permitted.

Lobster Ticket + Brochure; New Glasgow, Prince Edward Island; 2015

Fast forward to that present day, our timing could not have been better. It was the very last day for the New Glasgow Lobster Suppers and in return, the manager of the restaurant heard about the world tour, “The Voyage of Discovery,” in their local newspaper and offered a visit to their pound where they kept and cooked the lobsters.

After the Suppers, we were escorted to the pound where a young chef had told us about his summer working in the pound and described the thousands of lobsters they had gone through during their tourist season. I had asked him where the “leftover” lobsters in the pound will be sent after the restaurant was closed for the season. Majority of the lobsters will be re-sold throughout Prince Edward Island, with a focus on Charlottetown and the surrounding larger towns in the area.

Lunenburg was a Canadian port town in Lunenburg County, Nova Scotia. Situated on the province’s South Shore, Lunenburg was located on the Fairhaven Peninsula at the western side of Mahone Bay. The town was approximately 90 kilometres southwest of the county boundary with the Halifax Regional Municipality.

The sight of brightly colored houses, the smell of fish lingering in the wind, and a mild taste of salt water in the air all caught my attention when I first arrived in Lunenburg. The afternoon’s tide was low, and i reached an area on the water with boats soaked in mud and seashells vibrantly reflected in the puddles of water. The view of the restaurants and pubs from across the lake was breathtaking, an array of color shot across the water. I could have easily stayed here and photographed this beautiful fishing village all day.

In the mist of this fishing village, we even stumbled upon a piece of the Berlin Wall!

Photographing Kouchibouguac National Park

Tasting different organic hot chocolate drinks in Nova Scotia, Canada

Kinds of Hot Chocolate; Grand-Pré, Nova Scotia; 2015

The land of Grand-Pré was known for its heritage, culture, farm land, and kindness of those that thrived there. When I first entered Grand-Pré, farmers on tractors and on the side of the road happily greeted us. A sign read, “Just Us!” hung over a small building.

The shop was unique, with a decor of diversity within coffee, tea, and chocolate products. Their motto was, “People and the Planet before Profits.” Just Us! focused on small-scale organic coffee farmers around the world and conscientious consumers in Atlantic Canada and beyond.

The staff was very sweet, and I would like to give a shout out to Acacia, a local Acadian university student whom expressed her love for travels and coffee.

And, well, the hot chocolate diversified from milk, peppermint, spicy, or dark. It was recommended to try a milk hot chocolate, and it was absolutely delicious!

Before departing Just Us! coffee shop, a map of Grand-Pré was hanging up on the building. Not only was Just Us! a delicious experience, but it was also an educational one as well! We left and was excited to explore Grand-Pré!

Visiting Grand-Pré National Historic Site

Grand-Pré National Historic Site highlights the Acadian settlement of Grand-Pré, the Expulsion and the Acadian memorials. The cemetery of the 17th/18th century Acadian village was the scenic setting for Longfellow’s epic poem Evangeline: A Tale of Acadie.

Grand-Pré National Historic Site is also located in the heart of The Landscape of Grand Pré, Canada’s 16th UNESCO designated World Heritage Site. The 13 square-kilometre (5 mi²) site is located on the Bay of Fundy’s Minas Basin in Nova Scotia’s Annapolis Valley and is an exceptional living agricultural landscape. Claimed from the sea in the 17th century and still in use today applying the same technology and the same community-based management system, Grand Pré is the iconic place of remembrance of the Acadians who lived in harmony with the native Mi’kma’ki people before the Expulsion which began in 1755.

The visitor center of Grand-Pré was vibrant intricately designed, inside was packed with stories of the Acadians, their artwork, and illustrations of the lifestyle that they led at that specific period. Visual diagrams and posters went on to explain the expulsion of the Arcadians and the invasion of the British separating them from their land. Remarkably, over the few decades of Acadians being exiled for their lands, the Acadians managed to swim, sail, and hike back to their homeland.

The day was brilliant, it was the first time on the tour where it did not rain during the day. The blue sky and white clouds made the perfect background for the photographs that followed.

The sweeping gardens, memorial church with its paintings, stained glass and exhibits, and cross outside the church created the beauty for the Grand-Pré National Historic Site.

Grand-Pré:

Grand Pré was located in a vibrant natural environment which included Evangeline Beach, part of the Western Hemisphere Shorebird Reserve Network, witnessed the massive summer migrations of semi-palmated sandpipers and viewed huge tides of the Bay of Fundy. The area also featured Boot Island, a National Wildlife Area. The Minas Basin is part of a Wetland of International Importance.

The full expanse of the Landscape of Grand Pré can be best appreciated from the View Park on Old Post Road. The dykelands, fields, and settlement on the hills, first established by the Acadians in the 1680s, have been maintained and expanded over centuries by farmers of New England Planter descent, and later immigrants – including English and Scottish who came in the 19th and 20th centuries and Dutch who arrived after the Second World War.

The view of the 1111-hectare (2745 acres) of dykelands within the World Heritage Site was framed by the dramatic Cape Blomidon, from which tradition holds, the legendary Mi’kmaw figure Kluscap (Glooscap) kept a watchful eye over his people.

Visiting DeLorme’s Map Store in Yarmouth, Maine

Jeep in Front of The Map Store; Yarmouth, ME; 2015

The idea once I finished my project in Colombia was to quickly start driving North to Quebec, Canada. After a spontaneous last-minute decision to night drive North, the odds of stopping for longer periods of time in the states were limited due to an urgency to visit Miguasha National Park during open hours.

Entering Maine; 2015

To my surprise, I pulled over in one of Maine’s New England Style’s main streets to fill up the gas tank before proceeding to Quebec. After driving for a few minutes, I noticed a sign that read “Map Store” and a brick building stood out in the distance.

The Map Store; Yarmouth, ME; 2015

The three-story glass atrium that enclosed a ginormous globe on the first level also was not hard to miss! After spending a few hours learning more about Eartha, the GPS products that have not reached the market yet, geocaching, and other cool mapping software, I found it difficult for my brother, Josh, and I to leave this unique place. The staff was attentive, and asked us many questions about the world tour. I finally found a safe haven where I could discuss traveling non-stop!

DeLorme’s Map Store (known for the leader in innovative mapping and GPS products) housed a rotating globe, according to Yahoo! Travel was “The world’s largest rotating globe can found be in an appropriate place; the headquarters of famed mapmakers DeLorme in Yarmouth. It even had a cool name: Eartha.”

Eartha; Yarmouth, ME; 2015

A few of Eartha’s attributes:

1) The Guinness World Record Holder – Eartha is a 3-dimensional scale model of our earth with mountains and landforms in full 3D, that rotates and revolves, simulating the earth’s real movements. Eartha was given the title of “World’s Largest Revolving/Rotating Globe” by the editors of the Guinness Book of World Records in 1999, and still holds that record today. It measures 41.5 ft in diameter. Unveiled July 23, 1998 Eartha took two years to build and represents earth as it is seen from space. It rotates and revolves on a specially designed and built mechanized, cantilever arm.

Eartha’s Guinness Book of World Records; Yarmouth, ME; 2015

The Data – The mapping data, which took over a year to compile, is completely unique. It is a special composite database built from satellite imagery, shaded relief, colored bathymetry (ocean depth data) and information from terrestrial sources, such as road networks and urban areas. The printed Eartha database is equivalent to about 140 gigabytes (or 214 CD-ROMs), making it one of the largest in the world! Its scale is 1:1,000,000, which works out to be one inch equaling nearly 16 miles. At this scale, California is three and a half feet tall!

Eartha took two years to build and represents earth as it is seen from space. Every continent is beautifully detailed, with vivid colors illustrating all levels of vegetation, major roadways and cities. Ocean depths are also completely represented.

Size Comparison; Yarmouth, ME; 2015

2) The Official Measurements – The official measurements of Eartha were made for Guinness by several independent and licensed surveyors who found the Globe to measure 41 feet, one and one-half inches, slightly less than the rounded figure of 42 feet that was projected by DeLorme staff members. Still, 41′ 1.5″ was more than enough to surpass the former record-holder, the Globe of Peace in Apeccio, Pesaro, Italy (which is 33 feet in diameter and does not revolve or rotate).

Posing with Eartha; Yarmouth, ME; 2015

The Infrastructure – Eartha’s “skeleton” is the Omni-Span™ Truss structure – a DeLorme-developed system of over 6,000 pieces of lightweight aluminum tubing. The “skin” is constructed of over 792 map sections, printed on special materials and mounted on lightweight panels. Those panels are then affixed to the structure with a unique bolt system. Each panel spans 8° latitude by 10° longitude.

3) An Engineering Accomplishment – Every aspect of Eartha was developed using computer technology. It was designed by founder David DeLorme. and constructed by DeLorme staff members. “The building of Eartha was a tremendous challenge for all of us,” says DeLorme. “It will help us make even better maps and will help others envision how we on earth are all connected.”

DeLorme Sign; Yarmouth, ME; 2015

The Mechanism – Eartha tilts at 23.5 degrees, just as the earth does. It revolves on a specially designed cantilever arm and rotates on an axis. This action is powered by two electric-powered motors, which are commanded by a computer. One combined Eartha revolution and rotation occurs every minute at maximum speed.

Eartha Rotation; Yarmouth, ME; 2015

FLIGHT PLAN:

After prepping this segment of the world tour for the past few months, it was planned to arrive back in the states after my project in Colombia had finished.

This is what I wrote on Facebook in light of the upcoming tour:

“The next helicopter that lands on the ship is mine! Helicopter ride to Barranquilla and flights BAQ-BOG-MIA-CLT-MYR!

On the road to Canada tomorrow night! Stoked to head back to Newfoundland & Labrador! ”

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MEXICO

DREAM. EXPLORE. LIVE.

Thank you for stopping by! My name is Jessica and I have been coined the term "World Traveler." I have trekked to 60+ countries, 48 US states, and even started driving my Jeep around the world on "The Voyage of Discovery!" I suppose you can say I am a bit addicted to global travels!
My career as a Marine Mammal Scientist allows me to spend a few months researching whales, dolphins, turtles, sharks, fish, and endangered species within various international regions.
Feel free to come along for the adventure, you never know where I will end up!
Dream. Explore. Live.